far more than estimated by rights groups, who are demanding the liberation of all political prisoners. Days after the US ouster of socialist leader Nicolas Maduro in a January 3 bombing raid on Caracas, the government undertook to release a "large number" of the hundreds of Maduro opponents languishing in prison. The announcement, which was hailed by Washington, created expectations of large groups of prisoners walking free. But the releases have taken place in dribs and drabs.

Rodriguez said 626 prisoners have been released since December and said she would ask the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to verify the number. "Enough with the lies," she exclaimed, alluding to the figures issued by rights groups. Foro Penal, a leading Venezuelan rights group, said it had counted 155 political prisoners released, mostly since Maduro's overthrow, and estimated that over 700 people were still being held.

Outside the notorious Helicoide intelligence services headquarters in central Caracas that NGOs say is a torture center, prisoners' families have been growing increasingly agitated at the drip-feed of releases. Adriana Abreu wore a t-shirt with the image of her husband, Guillermo Lopez, an activist from opposition leader Maria Corina Machado's party who was detained two years ago. "Unfortunately, Guillermo is missing out on the life of our son, who is only four years old," she said through tears. Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were snatched from a military base in Caracas and flown to the United States to face trial on drug trafficking charges. (Bssnews)